reaching a stopping place; settling down (before the next stage); getting to a point where one can rest; one paragraph
crown; diadem; bottle cap
probably; likely; perhaps; a lot of; much; many
very early in the morning; so early in the morning; at this ungodly hour
to declare; to assert; to state definitively; to finish saying; to say everything; to tell all
self-interested show of kindness; acting selfishly under the guise of kindness
to increase; to add to; to augment
has never (done, occurred); there has never been an instance (where); there is no precedent (for)
another dimension; different level; whole other level
weight; weight (e.g. of someone's words); burden; importance; significance
with all due respect; I'm sorry, but ...; I'm afraid ...
something one finds questionable; something one finds fault with
armrest (of a chair); elbow rest
everyone; each and every one (of you); ladies and gentlemen
to be at a loss; to rack one's brains in vain; to think and think but get nowhere; to fail to come up with a good idea
to knead; to mix with fingers; to quibble; to argue for argument's sake
plausible; believable; solemn; dignified; serious
speaking by proxy; speaking for (someone else); payment by proxy; compensation by proxy; acting for (someone else); carrying out (on someone's behalf)
to go to the top; to climb to the top; to ascend to the top; to be engrossed in; to be very enthusiastic about; to be infatuated with
protest; refutation; pleading
being excluded; being ignored; being kept in the dark (about); being kept out of the loop; (lit.) outside the mosquito net
argument; discussion; dispute; controversy
to grant someone's request; to do a favour
the whole face; (wearing an expression) all over one's face
to indulge in; to give oneself up to; to be obsessed by; to be engrossed in; to be lost in; to be absorbed in
by all means; at all costs; absolutely
intracerebral; inside the brain; (occurring) in the mind; mental (e.g. image); imaginary
to talk of one's dreams (esp. unrealistic, far-fetched ones); to dream out loud
to happen to have; to have on hand; to carry (e.g. money)
accepted; fully-fledged; clear; respectable
arguments for and against; pros and cons; mixed reception; mixed reviews
wholeheartedly (approve, agree, etc.); unconditionally; completely
approval; agreement; support; favour; favor
puppet; marionette; puppet (person, organization, government, etc.); figurehead; (arch.) prostitute
to brave a danger; to take a risk
direct appeal; direct petition
carefree; comfortable; at ease; easygoing; happy-go-lucky
slightly early; just before
touch; contact; contact (with people); dealings; tangency
to try to unsettle someone; to throw off balance